What's Next: March 18, 2016

S'pore, Aussie ministers meet in Sydney

Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen and Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang will meet their Australian counterparts at the ninth Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee in Sydney today. The ministers will be reviewing the progress of a strategic partnership signed last June. Another area for possible discussion is cooperation in innovation and research and development.

Symposium on maritime piracy in Asia

The 10th anniversary symposium of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia is taking place here today.

Participants will discuss issues surrounding maritime piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. The focus will be on strengthening regional cooperation and coordination among governmental agencies and industry, and enhancing partnerships, among others.

China to release housing price data

China will release its February home price index today, which measures the average prices of new homes in 70 Chinese cities.

Housing markets in Tier 1 cities have been rising in China, with a 2.5 per cent year-on-year jump in prices in January - the fourth straight month of gain and the highest rise since July 2014. Markets in Tier 2 cities have been less buoyant.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 18, 2016, with the headline What's Next: March 18, 2016. Subscribe